Triple cased 1950s art glass multi-use decorative bowl. Made by Fratelli Toso in 1950s Italy.  It is unmarked (no label).  Click here to read more about Italian made glass, The butterfly form, vortex avventurine /aventurine swirls, and the triple cased glass is a classic Toso form, and was very popular in the mid 20th century. Big, beautiful and useful.  Can serve candy or fancy tidbits.  Classy with flowers, or makes a superb catch-all with four shoots slanting into the bowl to catch your stuff.  Lovely as a candle-holder (remove metal wick holders on candle base before using with old glass).  One of its original purposes was as an ashtray (smoking was terribly glamorous back then). There are 8 'rest' areas between the wings.  Can hold small smokes, cigars and incense sticks. Weighs 2.75 lbs. Measures 11.5' x 11.5' and is 2.25' tall. Top layer color is a light forest green, middle layer is milk white, third layer is colorless. Gold or copper specks. Handblown with polished flat pontil area on seat of the base.  Heavy bottom-wear on polished seat area (expected...shows age).  Swirling bits of minerals conclude in the center. There are two tiny trapped air-bubbles and some peppering in the center of the bowl, where the vortex swirl ends. No chips or cracks.  Glass is unchipped, quality made, squeeky clean. In excellent condition with age appropriate bottom-wear.   

Awesome vintage giant egg or pineapple shaped canister in teal optic glass. This is one big egg, or pineapple.  Not sure which form the artist meant this to be. Enlarge the image above to see size-comparison to large real egg. Made in the late 1940s to late 1950s when anything Italian was in fashion.  This may be an Italian/Murano/Venetian work ( Click here to read more about Italian made glass.), or it may by from an American maker like Pilgrim Art Glass, Fenton, among others.  Scandinavians also made fine optic glass during this period.  I've seen the geometric pattern on the base (image 3) on both Italian and Pilgrim items.  The pattern was formed from the unstretched optic mold from which this was blown. In excellent condition.  This item was rarely used, perhaps only displayed.  Very rare, expecially with the intact, applied amber glass leaf finial. Nice honeycomb optic produces a geometric effect.  High quality glass. Blown from mold, hand finished. Measures 11.75' tall, 6.5' at widest, with a girth of 19.5' around. Click on images below to enlarge, use your Back Arrow to return to this page. Image #4 includes a matching oversized snifter vase available separately. retroartglass.com

Beautiful extreme brandy balloon snifter vase from 1950s Italy. Stunning peacock blue color.  Well-made.  All hand-blown. This giant balloon vase has an unusual hollow stem.  It was discovered with a matching, and very unusual, full-sized covered coffee or teapot shown in image #5 and available separately. Extremely attractive.  Better made than most 1950s Italian glass of this style.  By one of the better glass houses I'm sure.  The dome foot was applied to the hollow stem which is applied to the optic mould blown vessel.  The pontil mark on the seat of the foot was pushed flat with a tool. In excellent condition.  Glass is brilliant.  Foot rim shows medium bottom-wear, expected on glass of this age.  Stands 12.25' tall with a widest girth of 22'.  It is much larger than it seems.  In image 5, a 3' tall glass sits next to it (to help you judge the size) Stunning for your retro modern decor.  This mid 20th century vase looks lovely with dried flowers or trailing plants.  Looks fabulous in a window, at the bar or on the grand piano.

Triple cased 1950s art glass multi-use decorative bowl. Made by Fratelli Toso in 1950s Italy.  It is unmarked (no label).  Click here to read more about Italian made glass, The butterfly form, vortex avventurine /aventurine swirls, and the triple cased glass is a classic Toso form, and was very popular in the mid 20th century. Big, beautiful and useful.  Can serve candy or fancy tidbits.  Classy with flowers, or makes a superb catch-all with four shoots slanting into the bowl to catch your stuff.  Lovely as a candle-holder (remove metal wick holders on candle base before using with old glass).  One of its original purposes was as an ashtray (smoking was terribly glamorous back then). There are 8 'rest' areas between the wings.  Can hold small smokes, cigars and incense sticks. Weighs 2.75 lbs. Measures 11.5' x 11.5' and is 2.25' tall. Top layer color is a light forest green, middle layer is milk white, third layer is colorless. Gold or copper specks. Handblown with polished flat pontil area on seat of the base.  Heavy bottom-wear on polished seat area (expected...shows age).  Swirling bits of minerals conclude in the center. There are two tiny trapped air-bubbles and some peppering in the center of the bowl, where the vortex swirl ends. No chips or cracks.  Glass is unchipped, quality made, squeeky clean. In excellent condition with age appropriate bottom-wear.